Kim Tok Hun
김덕훈
13th Premier of North Korea
Assumed office
13 August 2020
PresidentKim Jong Un
Preceded byKim Jae-ryong
Vice President of the State Affairs Commission
Assumed office
29 September 2019
PresidentKim Jong Un
Head of the Cadre Affairs Department of the Workers' Party of Korea
In office
31 December 2019 – 13 August 2020
LeaderKim Jong Un
Preceded byKim Phyong-hae
Vice Premier of North Korea
In office
30 April 2014 – 13 August 2020
PremierKim Jae-ryong
Pak Pong-ju
Personal details
Born1961 (age 62–63)
North Korea
Political partyWorkers' Party of Korea
Korean name
Chosŏn'gŭl
김덕훈
Hancha
金德訓
Revised RomanizationGim Deok-hun
McCune–ReischauerKim Tŏkhun

Kim Tok Hun (김덕훈, born 1961) is a North Korean politician who is currently the premier of North Korea and a full member on the Presidium of the Politburo of the Workers' Party of Korea. He is additionally a vice president of the State Affairs Commission.

Kim served as a vice premier between 2014 and 2020. He joined the WPK Central Committee in 2016, and was later promoted to the WPK Politburo in 2019. He also served as the head of the WPK's Cadre Affairs Department from December 2019 to August 2020. He was appointed as the premier in August 2020.

Early life

Kim was born in 1961.[1]

Political career

Kim was previously a delegate for North-South cooperation.[2]

Kim Tok Hun has been a member of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea since the 7th Congress in May 2016. He later joined the party Politburo on 11 April 2019 as an alternate member, and was promoted to full member on 31 December, and concurrently as a party vice-chairman, with a portfolio that included heading the Cadre Affairs Department. He possibly earned Kim Jong Un's approval by uncovering a corruption scandal involving cadre training facilities in February 2020.[3] In April 2020 he was also elected chairman of the Budget Committee of the Supreme People's Assembly.[4]

On 13 August 2020, in the wake of COVID-19 spillover in North Korea and floods hitting the southern part of the country, he was appointed premier of the cabinet by Kim Jong Un, and elevated to the top-level Politburo Presidium.[5] Since 2022, he has been the second-highest-ranking official in North Korea after Kim Jong Un.[6]

Criticism by Kim Jong Un on Ansok tideland

Kim Jong Un and Kim Tok Hun inspecting typhoon-affected regions in Anbyon County in August 2023 following Tropical Storm Khanun

In August 2023, Kim Jong Un, the leader of North Korea, publicly voiced strong criticism of Kim Tok Hun and his cabinet for their handling of the Ansok tideland disaster following tropical storm Khanun in a Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) article. He alleged that the recovery efforts were inadequately organized and executed, showing a lack of urgency and commitment.[7]

The North Korean leader expressed deep concern over the decline in administrative and economic discipline within the Cabinet stating "the administrative and economic discipline of the Kim Tok Hun Cabinet has got out of order more seriously". He attributed the inefficiencies in dealing with the crisis to this decline. Kim Jong Un criticized Kim Tok Hun for what he saw as a weak work attitude and misguided perspective regarding the Ansok tideland situation. The premier's alleged neglect of his responsibilities in the crisis was a point of significant concern with Kim Jong Un saying "...the premier looked round the site once or twice with the attitude of an onlooker and sent a vice-premier to it, who played the role of a fuel supplier only".[7]

Kim Tok Hun Inspecting Agricultural and Light Industrial Fields, 2021

In his critique, Kim Jong Un hinted at the possibility of expelling the director of the Tideland Reclamation Bureau from the WPK, implying that the director may have played a role in the mishandling of the disaster.[7]

The North Korean leader emphasized the necessity of ideological and moral reforms among government officials. He called on them to demonstrate a strong work ethic and unwavering commitment to the nation's well-being. Kim Jong Un underscored that the damage resulting from the Ansok tideland flooding was not solely a natural calamity but rather a human-induced disaster. He held accountable those who did not heed the Party's guidance and exhibited irresponsibility in their duties. Following this incident, according to a North Hamgyong resident, "administrative officials, including the People’s Committee and managers of factories and institutions at all levels, are walking on eggshells".[7][8]

References

  1. ↑ "김덕훈(남성)". nkinfo.unikorea.go.kr (in Korean). Retrieved 14 August 2020.
  2. ↑ Grisafi, John G. "Former Delegate for North-South Cooperation Becomes Vice Premier." NK News (Appointed, May 1, 2014) Archived 13 April 2014 at the Wayback Machine
  3. ↑ "The August Political Bureau Meeting". North Korea Leadership Watch. 14 August 2020. Retrieved 14 August 2020.
  4. ↑ Kim, Jeongmin (1 January 2020). "North Korea's New Year's Eve party plenum reveals major leadership reshuffle". NK News. Retrieved 2 January 2020.
  5. ↑ N.K. leader warns against accepting outside assistance over flood damage due to virus risk
  6. ↑ "North Korea's premier now ranks as top official. Is he Kim Jong Un's successor?". NK PRO. 1 August 2022. Retrieved 27 August 2022.
  7. 1 2 3 4 "Kim Jong Un blasts premier for typhoon lack of preparedness". Radio Free Asia. Retrieved 9 October 2023.
  8. ↑ "KCNA | Article | Respected Comrade Kim Jong Un Inspects Ansok Tideland under Restoration". kcna.kp. Retrieved 9 October 2023.
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